Magsaysay Award: AP CM lauds Sainath

Hyderabad, Aug 1 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today congratulated Palagummi Sainath for being chosen for the prestigious 'Ramon Magsaysay Award'' for 2007 in the category of 'Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts'.

In a letter to Mr Sainath today, a copy of which was released to the Press, Dr Reddy conveyed his warm felicitations and best wishes for the unique achievement in his ''relentless endeavour to promote rural development and farmers' welfare through interpretative journalism.'' ''You have made your motherland proud with your professional excellence'', Dr Reddy added.

The Chief Minister hoped that Mr Sainath would ''continue to render invaluable services'' with dedication for improving the lot of the toiling masses in rural India.

Mr Sainath, the Rural Affairs Editor in 'The Hindu', is selected for the award in recognition of his ''outstanding and passionate commitment as a journalist to restore the rural poor to India's national consciousness.'' UNI